Welcome to our February 2022 Newsletter
It’s been a busy winter season for the Musicians of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra! December included our first Pops concert of the season and an audience – and musician! – favorite, Handel’s Messiah, conducted by our own Kevin Fitzgerald in his subscription series debut. Check out one audience member’s Messiah experience here.
The Musicians were also busy outside of work, volunteering for the Youth First Toy Holiday Giveaway. Unfortunately, our New Years Eve concert had to be cancelled due to Omicron, but we checked in with alumnus David Handler, who’s favorite concert of the year was always New Years Eve. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to watch him wax poetic about all those offbeats in the waltzes!
January brought with it two fantastic Masterworks programs, starring Dvorak Symphony No. 9 (New World) and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5. The orchestra even got to take one of our programs on the road to Thompson High School to play in their gorgeous performing arts center. January also included a return to UAB hospital where the musicians put on a performance for patients and their families.
Spring is on its way, and with it many opportunities to come and experience your Alabama Symphony Orchestra live and in person. Stop by and enjoy our Broadway Pops or one of our fabulous Masterworks soloists, violinist Francisco Fullana and pianist Terrence Wilson. We look forward to seeing you there!
CELEBRATING OUR RECENT RETIREES
by Kathleen Costello (Principal Clarinet)
In this past year and a half that has brought so much change, the Alabama Symphony had several members retire after many years of outstanding service to the organization. Restrictions brought about by Covid prevented a more typical celebration of these members’ contributions, so the musicians chose to interview and feature recent retirees in this month’s newsletter.
In December, Ryan and I had the pleasure of sitting down and filming interviews with former Assistant Principal Second Violinist David Handler, former Section First Violinist Roger James, and former Assistant Principal Horn Jeff Solomon. It was heartwarming and inspiring to hear about memorable experiences and past favorite concerts, as well as cherished aspects of the job and hopes for the future of the Alabama Symphony.
Not able to be interviewed were former Section First Violinist Ai-Yi Bao, former Section First Violinist Anne Pandolfi, and former Principal Horn David Pandolfi. We would like to thank all these past members for their many years of service, for their inspiring playing, and for helping to create the Alabama Symphony that exists today. All will be missed, and we offer our very best wishes for a fulfilling retirement!
Upcoming Concerts
by Brad Whitfield (Assistant Principal Clarinet)
Run, don’t walk, to hear your Alabama Symphony Orchestra this February as we are thrilled to share several exciting concerts with you!
One program that has become synonymous with the ASO is “Birmingham does Broadway”. Who doesn’t love Broadway tunes? From Leonard Bernstein’s iconic “West Side Story” to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s popular “Hamilton” this show will have you singing along from your seat on February 12!
Our next Masterworks concerts on February 18 & 19 will feature a work that I am personally excited to perform for the first time. Alberto Ginastera’s “Variaciones concertantes” (Concert variations) is on every clarinetist’s bucket list as one of the variations features a virtuosic clarinet solo. This colorful piece is divided up by seven characterful variations featuring different solo instruments from within the orchestra interspersed with orchestral interludes. I cannot wait to hear my colleagues featured in this manner, and I know they will enthrall you as well. This program will open with Louise Farrenc’s lesser-known but ever so delightful “Overture No. 2”, and close with Max Richter’s “The Four Seasons: Recomposed” featuring Spanish violinist Fransisco Fullana.
On February 25 & 26, we will perform our next Masterworks concerts featuring one of my favorite piano concerti, Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor”. As a wind player it is sometimes easy to mentally drift off in an ocean of rests during a concerto, but NOT this one! From the triumphant orchestral opening, to the almost dream-like, nostalgic slow movement, to the jaunty Rondo, you can’t help but come aboard this masterpiece. The first half of the program will open with John Adam’s “Christian Zeal and Activity” (one of my favorite living composers!) and include Elliot Carter’s blazingly difficult “Symphony No. 1”.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra Musicians will undoubtedly deliver spirited and scintillating performances! Come see us. We can’t wait to see you!